Buying is the central function setting the course for our brands’ product; the hub of the wheel that ensures all teams are moving in the right direction to deliver a beautiful, compelling and profitable assortment. Working hand-in-hand with our design, planning and product development teams, buyers are the bridge between the strategy and creative direction of their line. Our merchandising & buying teams possess a blend of analytical ability and creative thinking, drawing from historical data and market trends to craft an assortment that stays true to our brands and excites our customer. This position is a part of our A&F Brand Team. 

This job is located at our Home Office in London, UK.

What Will You Be Doing? 

• Act as owner of the A&F brand for EMEA Stores and Web, reporting into Buying Director
• Create the high-level strategies for the brand, ensuring they are consistent with overall A&F family of brands identity
  • Following each season, execute a detailed hindsight / strategic line review process at the department level to inform future strategy and identify line list needs for design
  • Create globally consistent yet regionally relevant product architecture to execute key strategies
• Engage in foundational work to understand the brand position and current A&F customer
• Be the expert in current selling analysis and historical selling knowledge for the region
  • Present weekly selling / business updates as part of a regular Monday review process, evaluating performance, proposing tactical improvements, and consolidating results into a summary to be shared with the Home Office
  • Leverage financial and strategic capabilities to influence promotions, pricing, product placement, etc. as well as product development and assortments
  • Participate in monthly plan meetings, highlighting areas of additional product opportunity and highlighting risk. Lead regional in-season buys, reacting to emerging trend and maximizing top sellers
• Intimately understand regional customers’ preferences and interests by observing shopping patterns, regularly shopping competitors, aspirational brands / runway and monitoring media platforms
  • Share updates on trend and customer engagement with key partners across the organization
  • Understand competitive landscape by visiting key retailers monthly. Focus on newness, major style/color/pattern sku distortions & high-level pricing & promotion takeaways
  • Determine uptrends/downtrends in key attributes against current business to inform future assortment.
• Participate in central assortment reviews on a seasonal basis, contributing ideas, identifying top items, and preparing for seasonal buys
• Connect remotely and in-person with Marketing and Visual Merchandising teams to coordinate floorsets and bring product ideas to life for the customer
• Lead and develop team of divisional buyers, responsible for growth and development within the team

What Do You Need To Bring?

• Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience
• Merchandising or Buying experience, preferably in apparel
• Proven ability to thrive in team-based settings
• Passion for the buying role, fashion retail, customer research, and the family of brands
• Desire to take ownership for a portion of a multi-billion-dollar business
• An acute eye for product and trend
• A deep understanding of sales analysis and financial metrics that relate to your business
• Strong presentation skills and the ability to communicate confidently to leadership
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed by the department
• A high comfort-level with analytical sales tools and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
• A collaborative approach to working with cross-functional partners to achieve the vision of the brand

Our Company 

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F Co.) is a global, digitally-led, omnichannel specialty retailer of apparel and accessories catering to kids through millennials with assortments curated for their specific lifestyle needs.  

Our Values 

Our corporate purpose of being here for you on the journey to being and becoming who you are, fuels our customer-led brands and our global associates. We lead with this purpose and always put our people first, which is evidenced by our Great Place to Work™ Certification, as well as being named a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign. In addition to equitable compensation and benefit offerings, including flexibility and competitive Paid Time Off, we offer a range of educational and engagement opportunities, including various Associate Resource Groups, volunteer opportunities and additional time off to give back to our global communities.  

What You'll Get

As an Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F Co.) associate, you’ll be eligible to participate in a variety of benefit programs designed to fit you and your lifestyle. A&F is committed to providing simple, competitive, and comprehensive benefits that align with our Company’s culture and values, but most importantly – with you! We also provide competitive incentives to reward the commitment our associates have for moving our global business forward

• Incentive bonus program
• Annual companywide review process
• Flexible spending accounts
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Associate assistance program
• Paid parental and adoption leave
• Access to fertility and adoption benefits through Carrot
• Access to mental health and wellness app, Headspace
• Paid time off & one paid volunteer day per year, allowing you to give back to your community
• Work from anywhere (Mondays and Fridays are “work from anywhere” days for most roles & six work from anywhere weeks per year)
• Seven associate wellness half days per year
• Merchandise discount on all of our brands
• Opportunities for career advancement, we believe in promoting from within
• Access to multiple Associate Resource Groups
• Global team of people who will celebrate you for being YOU!

Additional Information

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER